At the foot of Ascending Stars Mountain.
A silver-robed man descended on the wind from the direction of Returning Rapids Mountain. His features were handsome, with deep-set eyes and a straight nose, but his gaze was haggard. His cultivation had only just reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.
The three spirit mountains outside Ascending Stars-Crane Cloud, Jia Li, and Returning Rapids-belonged to the Liang, Yuan, and Qi households respectively. This man was Qi Du, the Qi Household's last remaining scion and lord of Returning Rapids Mountain, a younger clansman of their former eldest senior brother, Qi Wen.
An older Daoist stood quietly at the foot of the mountain. He looked withered and worn, and now, with hesitation on his face, he spoke softly:
"Junior Brother Qi Du, you should leave. The Sect Leader and all the elders have already decided. They fear someone may attack soon, so they're tightening security and refusing visitors."
"The Sect Leader."
Qi Du spoke softly, but the Daoist standing guard immediately stopped him and urged in a low voice:
"You may harbor resentment, but this isn't the time to voice it. Have you forgotten what happened to Wei Yan and Qi Wen? Had those two not encountered some fortunate opportunities, they really would have died. What about you? Who can you count on to stand up for you?"
"Senior Brother Xunyao, Liang Xilan stripped you of your stargazing duties and made you guard the gate here despite your eighth-level Qi Refining cultivation. She humiliates you like this, denies you even the slightest chance to reach Foundation Establishment, and you're really willing to endure it?"
Qi Du gritted his teeth as he looked at Si Xunyao before him.
As the inner disciple with the highest cultivation, Si Xunyao had once been close to both Qi